Save the economy; visit a park

In these post-recessionary, economically sluggish times, the morals of capitalist America say that you basically should not do anything unless it stimulates the economy. But guess what? That doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy more stuff. You can go out and buy experiences, too. You can go, just for instance, to a national park. You can rent a kayak. You can hire a guide. You can get all the benefits of being outside, and still be doing your part to create jobs. Think Progress writes : [L]ast year’s nearly 417 million recreation visits to public lands and waters stimulated $45 billion in economic impacts along with 372,000 jobs. This number does not include the value of protecting places from development beyond recreation, such as clean air, clean water, and habitat. And this isn’t just something that makes life better for people living in these places in the short ter...